Battle of Chenfan

The Battle of Chenfan occurred in the harvest season of 190 AD when the warlord Cao Cao seized the livestock farms of Chen Commandery from Lai Lie's Han garrison, which was loyal to Dong Zhuo. The battle gave Cao Cao control over two-thirds of Chen Commandery and provided his army with additional food supplies.

Battle
After Cao Cao's victory at the Battle of Chenzhen, he felt that he nearby farmland was an opportunity waiting to be seized and a chance to push back those in thrall to Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao and his general Xiahou Dun marched south from Chen town with 774 troops, laying siege to the livestock farms, which were garrisoned by 841 Han troops loyal to Dong Zhuo, commnaded by the Ji Province militia captain Lai Lie.

In the ensuing battle, Cao Cao faced superior numbers, but they were made up of poor-quality peasant militia soldiers. Cao Cao ordered his swordsmen and spearmen to attack the Han peasant soldiers as his cavalry outflanked the enemy. The cavalry were showered with arrows, but their shields protected most of them, and they were able to charge the enemy rear with devastating effect as the Han troops were tied down fighting Cao Cao's infantry. Even Cao Cao himself charged into battle to take part in the slaughter of the fleeing peasant soldiers, and the entire Han army was destroyed, with only 150 men surviving to be captured. The battle gave Cao Cao control over two-thirds of the commandery, as well as a farm from which he could supply his army.